Montgomery County Councilmembers unanimously approved The Unmask Ice Act Tuesday.
It prohibits federal, state or local law enforcement agencies from wearing masks or facial coverings while working in the county.
A Law with Limits
However, explained Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, “We can’t actually go tell a federal agent to take it off or to force them to take it off. We don’t have that ability or that authority.”
She said the act is more of a “if you see something, say something” provision.
Under the act, law enforcement officers working in the county must display identification. The wearing of masks and not donning proper identification is allowed for undercover and plain clothes officers.
“To be clear, the federal government enforcement that we are seeing happening here and across the country is not about keeping people safe, but it is about keeping people afraid and creating instability in our community,” said Councilmember Will Jawando.
The council included a provision for a portal to be established where residents could report any officers wearing masks.
The Unmask Ice Act will be eliminated from county law once Maryland adopts a similar measure, which legislators are working on. Once passed, which could take a year, according to Jawando, then state law would override this act.
Related Legislation
Also at Tuesday’s council meeting, member Evan Glass introduced a bill aimed at making sure county police officers treat the immigrant community with respect.
Under the Continued Excellence in Public Service Act, anyone who applies to be a county police officer who has been involved with the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement efforts on or after Jan. 21, 2025 must undergo “a more detailed background review process before being hired,” Glass explained.
A public hearing on this act is set for June 9.
“Over the last 16 months, we have watched in horror as the federal government’s militarized immigration enforcement has torn families apart,” Glass said. The act “reaffirms that the officers who protect and serve Montgomery County embody the values of Montgomery County.”
In a news release, Police Chief Marc Yamada stated, “The Montgomery County Department of Police places a high priority on ensuring that all potential recruits possess integrity and a clear history of moral and ethical behavior before they are hired.”
He added, “To uphold these standards, MCPD has long implemented rigorous background investigations and screening practices that ensure our recruits meet the highest professional expectations. This bill reinforces the policies and procedures we already have in place.”
